Illinois adds four-star safety
Just one day after returning home from his official visit to Iowa four-star safety Dondi Kirby has committed to another Big Ten school.
After returning from Iowa yesterday Kirby had nice things to say about what the Hawkeyes have to offer, but he did admit that his trip did not go as well as his official visit to Illinois had a week earlier.
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On Sunday he said he would probably be making his decision in the next couple of days. True to his word, the 6-foot-3, 180-pound safety from Monroeville (Pa.) Gateway announced where he will be attending college on Monday.
Though he was unavailable for further comment Kirby did confirm via text message that he has committed to Illinois.
Kirby's coach at Gateway, Terry Smith, spoke a bit about the prospect's decision.
"He committed this morning," Smith said. "He called the coaches and let them know.
"He just had a great visit to Illinois and just felt like Illinois was a better fit for him personally. He felt like he built a better relationship with the players on the team and the coaching staff as well.
"When he was at Iowa he liked everything about it. Obviously it's a great program with a great coaching staff, but he just felt like he's a better fit at Illinois."
Kirby missed the 2010 season with an ACL tear and he has been working hard to get back to full strength.
"He's well ahead of schedule," his coach said. "Our last three weeks of the season he actually started practicing with us, doing some scout team work. Come the fall next year he'll be ready to go."
Kirby is ranked the No. 7 safety in the nation and the No. 152 overall prospect on the Rivals250.